Warning about the first cigarette - just under 70 percent become smokers

British researchers warn about the first cigarette

Smoking makes you dependent. Everyone should already know that. But how fast smoking makes one dependent has now been demonstrated by a data analysis by the Queen Mary University of London. The data comes from eight representative surveys with more than 215,000 subjects in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The shocking result is that nearly 70 percent of people who have ever tried to smoke later find long-term favors of cigarettes and smoke daily.

The ingenuous youthful sin can quickly turn into a tangible addiction. The scientists around Peter Hajek have published their findings in the journal "Nicotine & Tobacco Research". According to surveys in English-speaking countries, around three in five people have ever smoked a cigarette. As a result, on average more than two of the three testers smoked at least daily for a while. Surveys fluctuated between 61 and 77 percent.

In a survey analysis, British researchers reveal that nearly 70 percent of people who smoke once a day smoke later on a daily basis. (Image: pixelrain / fotolia.com)

Conclusions of the study

Over two-thirds of people who try a cigarette become, at least temporarily, daily smokers. The transition rate from first smoke tests to daily smoking is, according to the researchers, an important indicator of smoking behavior. The scientists show with the data how quickly a harmless pastime can turn into a compulsive need. The result highlights the importance of the current efforts to reduce cigarette experimentation among adolescents.

E-cigarettes are suitable for smoking cessation?

The vapor of e-cigarettes typically contains nicotine but not most of the toxins inhaled during cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes have become popular with smokers who want to reduce the risks of smoking. One of the authors of the study, Peter Hajek, already dealt in a previous study with the addictive potential of nicotine in e-cigarettes. The combined results of two studies with a total of 662 participants showed that using an e-cigarette with nicotine in the long-term increases the likelihood of smoking compared to e-cigarette without nicotine. Further studies are needed to investigate this effect.

Further tips on smoking cessation

Although still over 25 percent of Germans smoke occasionally or permanently, but almost every second smoker wants to quit. Many smokers find it difficult to give up the former "beloved vice" and deal with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. However, there are many techniques, tips and home remedies that can be used effectively to help stop smoking and the first time thereafter. As an added incentive, a recent scientific study found that people perceive smokers as less attractive than non-smokers. (Fp)